Israel clearly won the latest round with Hamas, but could have gone deeper into Gaza and done greater damage to the organization, according to military analysts in the US media who were visiting the region this week.

"I think you achieved what one Israeli general called 'changing the reality' in which Hamas operates, but I think you were too restrained and could have gone deeper into Gaza," Lt.-Gen. Thomas McInerney, a 35-year veteran of the US Air Force and a Fox News military analyst, told The Jerusalem Post Monday after touring the Gaza periphery and receiving briefings from Israeli officials.

The military analysts' trip was organized by the New York-based Project Interchange, affiliated with the American Jewish Committee.

The Gaza fighting is seen in the US as a healthy demonstration of Israel's capabilities, according to Lt.-Col. Rick Francona, a former US Air Force intelligence officer in several theaters and military analyst for NBC News.

Unlike in the wake of the 2006 Second Lebanon War, "the conversation in the US revolves around Israeli decision-making - what's the endgame? Are they going to remove Hamas? It doesn't question Israel's capabilities. You've won the battle," Francona said.

Both analysts said Israel seemed ready to face down Hamas in a long-term fight.

The cease-fire was "just the end of this round, and that seems to be Israeli policy right now. The best Israel can go for is to manage the conflict until Hamas can be made to go away," said Francona.

"The Israeli public's support for this war mutes global opinion," noted McInerney. "When a nation is united in its right to defend itself, it makes it more difficult for Europeans, the Left or the Arab media to counter that."

Even so, said McInerney, "your leadership is too sensitive about world opinion. I know why Israel didn't [drive deeper into Gaza] - you have an election coming up and a new [US] president taking office, but you need to gain the freedom of operation in Gaza that you have in the West Bank." Commenting on the unilateral cease-fire announced on Saturday, he suggested that "Israel did not want to destroy Hamas. I believe you should have."

I think Israel accomplished its goal. In fact, this quote sums it up well.

"I think you achieved what one Israeli general called 'changing the reality' in which Hamas operates"

The reality that was changed is this...

Israel killed 1300 Gazans as a result of the Hamas rocket attacks, and not only that, Gaza lost nearly $2 billion in assets, including 4,100 homes, about 1,500 factories and workshops, 20 mosques, 31 security compounds, and 10 water or sewage lines.

While 2 billion has already been pledged to reconstruct Gaza, it will take 5 years to do so. They just lost 5 god damn years! That has must have an impact on the minds of the Hamas leadership when they have any discussions about rocket attacks on Israel in the future.

If youre a Palestinian, and your Hamas government begins firing rockets at Israel again, what is your response? Do you applaud this and encourage more of it, or do you protest their actions and make it clear that you are NOT on board with terrorist attacks on your neighbor? Am i wrong with thinking this is easy to answer? Do you think the citizens of Gaza want more rocket attacks? We will certainly find out.

On a side note, it was rather amusing to hear about the Palestinians celebrating their great victory over Israel. They lost 1300 people and Israel lost 13. Who knows, maybe this will bolster Hamas moral enough to do some more rocket attacks, that way Israel can come back in and give them more stuff to celebrate.

Gaza lost nearly $2 billion in assets, including 4,100 homes, about 1,500 factories and workshops, 20 mosques, 31 security compounds, and 10 water or sewage lines.

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Really, when you think about it, alot of Gazans should be somewhat thankful for this event. Do you have any idea how many jobs this reconstruction is going to create? Their unemployment rate is going to drastically lower in the next few months and it wont cost Gaza a penny.

Did they leave of their own accord or did some mighty power tell them to reign it in before the inauguration ?

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Before the inauguration and before the Israeli elections and after the EU and US agreed to contribute technology, ships, manpower and diplomatic effort to stop the smuggling of weapons from Iran to Hamas in Gaza. With most of the developed world uniting to stop Iran from smuggling arms to terrorists how can anyone doubt the danger that if Iran is allowed to acquire nuclear weapons they might end up in the hands of terrorists?

Before the inauguration and before the Israeli elections and after the EU and US agreed to contribute technology, ships, manpower and diplomatic effort to stop the smuggling of weapons from Iran to Hamas in Gaza. With most of the developed world uniting to stop Iran from smuggling arms to terrorists how can anyone doubt the danger that if Iran is allowed to acquire nuclear weapons they might end up in the hands of terrorists?

Really, when you think about it, alot of Gazans should be somewhat thankful for this event. Do you have any idea how many jobs this reconstruction is going to create? Their unemployment rate is going to drastically lower in the next few months and it wont cost Gaza a penny.

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lol Are you suggesting provoking Israel to attack was Hamas' idea of an economic stimulus plan? How about that! And everyone's saying how stupid Hamas is.

I'm sure the Israelis would like that, but the Europeans have been so gutless for so long and Obama is an unknown commodity as yet, so it's hard to say what will come of this, but Iran is certainly a greater threat to Israel than the chest thumping idiots who run Hamas, so imo, it's worth while allowing Hamas to survive a while longer if the cease fire rallies support against Iran.

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